ABSTRACT
As noted in the introduction, there is a general assumption that greater levels of decentralization and local autonomy will inevitably lead to higher levels of democracy. However, as Pratchett argues, there is a complex relationship between autonomy and democracy.1 More autonomy does not automatically translate into more democracy. As Rosenbaum observes:
Given some measure of independence and autonomy, people can behave very well and very poorly, very tolerantly and very intolerantly, very honourably and very dishonourably. Just as opening up more venues for individual action creates more possibilities for people to behave well, it also provides more possibilities for them to behave poorly.2
